News reporters like to report on campaign donations and prominent donors. It’s pretty easy to do given the required filings and it’s a lot easier than digging into the issues a couple of layers and comparing candidate responses. That is especially true when we are early in the race. Emily Mibach at the Daily Post did just that with the race to replace Dave Pine’s seat as a SM County Supervisor representing the district from San Bruno south to B’game. It’s funny in a way since you can only find the Post in about five places in B’game and nowhere north of here. But I applaud her doing her homework.
The headline is that for the first six months of the year, Emily Beach outraised Gina Papan by about $50,000. Reporters often overlook what happened prior to the current reporting period (ask me how I know) and where other monies might come from like supportive PAC money. Often times the donors are more important than the donation amounts. As the Post piece points out, Papan is drawing from SF and San Mateo County while Beach has a wider small donor network and draws from further south.
A point-in-time difference of $50K isn’t really meaningful. Both candidates will be able to raise what they need to run a visible campaign. What voters will be looking for is clear positions about undoing some of the harm the last Board did–overtly and by omission. Telling the Sheriff’s Department it cannot cooperate with ICE to deport convicted rapists and child molesters would be a good start. Where do they stand on things like the La Quinta Inn purchase in Millbrae or, more generally, respecting neighborhood rights? What ideas do they have to keep the SB9 vultures at bay? Aside from raising tolls and fees, what is their plan to fix the infrastructure in the County? Who understands County finances and can suggest how to do more with less? And which one will leave our gas appliances alone? That’s what I’ll be looking for.
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